The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-21
THE GAMBRELL MURDER.
TIE ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE
THAT ENDED HIS LIFE.
An Interview With q Prominent
Mississippiau Which Throws
on Some Light.

Charleston railroad a day or 90 since
met a prominent gentleman who wa
well informed on Mississippi affair
and especially the events that led !
the killing Of Robert Gambrell. tn
persistent scribe after an hours con
versation, gesned the folio wing:
"The first Democratic Jackson, Mrs
newspaper to insist upon com plet
change OF administration in that Sat
was the Lantern, published and edite,
by II. o. FairmsD, = young lawyer, Il
the summer OF 1885. II was nolabl
As being the only illustrated pape
published In Mississippi. / emp love,
special artist who furnished from
week to week, under the dioistion O
the editor, cartoons illustrative OF III,
current phaseJ Of Mississippi politics.
"The manner OF the Lanterns bring
ing ont was designedly Sensational
The State Democtalic nominating con
vention was appointed TO be held II
August, and the new paper had onl,
about eight weeks In which 10 do M
work. Views its editor had, but be saw
that his audience could not be reachet
by ordinary methods In time. There
fore he projected secretly q carlcatur,
campaign weekly, the fret Issue Of
which, with side-splittipg car
toon on the frat Iage, was a ed
Unexpectedly al the people through
every poetofiice In the State. Tsc
thousand copies were clrc1 a,ed. The
cartoon was the famous "Horie In the
clover field" The effect was cleo.
trical. The Lantern was the talk Of
the State at once, and henc eforward
until the paper ran lie course as pro.
jetted II was sought for by the iptslli.
gent oil over the State. But tbh ia
only preliminary TO saying that Il wa,
the Lantern which fist charged the
Tact that the leseees OF the Mississ mi
penitentiary we're In default
"A brief historical review of this mar.
Ter Is spropos Of the Gambrsll homi.
eide aud the penltentlary discussion,
The Lanterns slogan was rotation.
II proposed 10 relieve the old set q (
state officers aud substitute fresh men.
The combinations favorable 10 the
denomination OF Gov. Lowry, now.
ever, proved 10 be 20 strong as con.
veniion day approached, Il wa. found
that stronger medicine than ridicule
and high argument was needed.
The editor OF the Lantern In this
CRITICAL emergency obtained from a
clerk In the revenue department Of
the Stste, information 10 the effect
that Jonas .. Hamilton aud his ssso.
ciates In the psnitentiary lease had
made no settlement with the State
since 1882, and that Notwithstanding
the law whlch required annual settle
ments, their arrears for the years 1888
and 1884 aggregated about $500
which, added 10 the amount 10 fall due
81 the end OF 1884, would make their
Indebtedness TO the State marty
"Fairmsn now believed he had a
weapon which would defeat Lowry
and change the administration,
No time was TO be Lost. There were
but about ten days more to work In.
The revolution II wrought mus, be
wrought at once. There was no
time Tor elaboration or careful inyes.
tigation. No record was inspected
the clerks statement was accepted a.
the basis OF attack.
THE chsfge was made un der glsrips
head lines-the Governor was held ~.
'ponsible, aud his defeat demanded.
The eject was prodigious. The
Lesder Zone Of Loxry's
In 1880 thus alluded 10 Il
recently In an article headed che
Penltentisry Ring" which has been
published In the ArARAL aud many
other papers:
Daring the heat Of The ca berna.
iorial contest Of 1886, when Losty's
chance Was wagering in the balance,
II y. fairman, OF the Jackson Ian.
Tern, published an article charging
that the lessees Of the penitentlary
we're behind In their accounts MANY
thousand dollare, aud that Lowry was
responsible Tor the delinquency. The
showing made by FAirman was a. the
explosion oil mighty bomb, and for a
time the Losry hoiis staggered
under H." But the "hng" proved
eqnal TO the emergency, aud there IA
no; In the history Of politics more
remarkable instance OF blufi and cool
than that displayed on this
occa'ion. There iB 10 Missiasippi a
Superintendent Of the Peniientiary.
Ne lei State OH ser, independent Of
he lesssas, and is charged With the
Ipecial duty Of supervislng .he In.
efnal Management and Affairs Ia tho
interest vi the commonwealth"
There IL another State OH ser called
ne SAFE Revenue Age II. His en- %
Vas created during the administration
u Gov. Stone, aud the Incumbent Ia
charged with the sp ciAl duty OF watch.
Ing the accounts Of officers who handle
he State revenues aud Of compelling
settlements by those found In arrears
AZ tho time when the Lanterns
charge" was made I. J. MoQulston
vas Penltentiary superintendent, Gen,
Wit Adams State Revenue Agent and
T. q. Ctach'ngs Attorney General.
Jonas \. Hamilton aud his assoclats
ieesee responded In q card published
- j. L. Powers paper. the jackson
They denounced the editor Of the
Llntern a. malicious aud deliberate
ialslher and charged him with attempt.
log 10 ruin their hnancial credit. Aud,
TO make their denial ironclad conylno.
ing, overwhelming, they published
With their card official CO tifioates n 4.
=, Calehings, Attorney General, Writ
Adame, revenue agent, aud T. J. Nc
Qiiaion, superintendent Of the psnl.
teniiary, that the leeseei had raid into
the treasury all suma due the State up
TO December I, 1884
"Fneeesre the celebrated O. ri nca a.
which have tinoe been repeatedly de.
nouuoed ~ ialse by the Brookhayen
Leader, Oh okasay Messenger, ssord
and shloid, New Missitsipplan, aud
other Mitsis1ippi papers. This was
TOO many Tor tho editor Of the LIN.
tern. The result was the withdrawal
by Hamilton OF offensive epithels. an
explanation by tho editor Of the Ian.
tern by giving authority, the admlS.
tion OF an error by the tlerk who fur.
nlehed the hsuree, mutual retrac,ions
and a peacaable settlement. The cry
AZ narfaauttun 49, nos. at - -